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Female fans normally know more facts about what’s going on than men do anyway. I’d say they’re a more intelligent fan on top of that. They normally know more about what we’ve done than we know about what we’ve done. --- Tony Stewart

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There are female fans who take apart engines and will take you apart if you have a problem with that; who are drawn to the danger and mystery of the sport; who watch races on TV to witness pure passion and unscripted emotion; who love the camaraderie of these family-friendly festivals; who feel the nervous anxiety of the lip-biting wives atop the pit boxes. --- Andrew Giangola “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday”

Let’s face it, NASCAR can be complicated, especially when rules change year to year. It’s tough being a rookie in NASCAR … even as a fan. I was there once, too.

Racing brings together fans of all ages and backgrounds in a feverish excitement over a sport that can be wild and tumultuous, yet utterly confusing.

Someone once said to me, “Fake it ‘til you make it,” and that advice has never steered me wrong. Even if you don’t know every detail of racing, your fandom is just as important to the sport as the lifelong fanatic, so here are 15 ways that you can let everyone know how much you love NASCAR.

1. Tell everyone that going to the Daytona 500 is at the top of your bucket list. The Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR season in February and is the culmination of Speed Weeks. It’s kind of like the Super Bowl of NASCAR, but it’s held at the beginning of the season.

2. NASCAR is a sport. Always. A long-running debate exists over whether NASCAR is a sport, like baseball, basketball or football. The truth is, many pit crews are former pro athletes who want to extend their career beyond the field, or they may be post-college athletes who are not going into another pro sport. And drivers have to be in shape to endure hours in hot temperatures at high speeds.

6. Know that “the Chase” is now known as “the Playoffs” and immediately correct anyone who says otherwise.
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Photo Credit: Charlotte Bray for Skirts and Scuffs

7. Talk about what you’re planning to wear at an upcoming race and roll your eyes at anyone who mentions wearing stylish, uncomfortable shoes, especially heels. (See How to Prepare for Your First NASCAR Race)

8. Throw some racing guru lingo into your conversation. Try talking about the view of the cars from the frontstretch or drivers who are on the bubble. And of course, you should always be ready for the Big One.

9. Talk endlessly about the skills and athleticism of NASCAR pit crews, especially how fast the over-the-wall team is.

10. Always favor NASCAR over football, the two sports that go head to head for viewership on weekends in the fall.